The Southland Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941. Councils, and More Councils

Southland Times, Issue 24368, 24 February 1941, Page 4

The Southland Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941. Councils, and More Councils

IT IS impossible to feel any enthusiasm for the Prime Minister’s proposal to set up yet another council of industry to help in the war-time administration. Mr Fraser already has the services of his own Cabinet, of a War Cabinet, and of a War Council. In addition, he has before him the report of the Economic Stabilization. Conference which he summoned last year. The War Council and the Economic Stabilization Conference were both made fully representative of farming, manufacturing and labour interests, which are the very interests that the Prime Minister now talks of incorporating in an economic council. Whether the War Council has done, or has been allowed to do, any really useful work, the public has no means of knowing. But the Economic Stabilization Conference certainly did produce a most valuable report containing major recommendations for intensifying the national effort and protecting the Dominion's economy against the stresses created by the war. These recommendations were agreed to by representatives of capital and labour, and they pointed the way clearly to the “truly national co-operative effort” for which the Prime Minister is apparently still searching.

While the Government continues to ignore the report of the Economic Conference and while it makes only partial use of the War Council it can hardly expect to awaken public enthusiasm for a third advisory body constituted in almost exactly the same way. The process could be carried on indefinitely. The Government is well aware of the industrial and economic problems that have been created by the war and its own pre-war administration, and it is well aware of the remedial measures that will have to be applied. The establishment of more extra-parliamentary councils is not one of them. The great need at the present time is not a further division of authority or the taking of more advice, but the unification of the highest authority. Parliament itself, into a single national Government. Only such a Government and only courageous leadership inside it can overcome the difficulties with which the Dominion is faced and at the same time bring the war effort to a maximum. The time for taking refuge behind conferences and committees is long past.